In Case Of Emergency, Read Blog

A day after Colorado State University released their forecast that the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season will be “above average”, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate has recorded a video urging the public to begin preparations.

The preliminary report, according to CNN.com, predicts 15 named storms and eight of those becoming hurricanes:

Forecasters William Gray and Phil Klotzbach said that El Niño conditions will dissipate by summer and that unusually warm tropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures will persist, leading to favorable conditions for hurricanes to develop and intensify.

Of the eight expected hurricanes, the forecasters predict that four will strengthen to major hurricanes, meaning Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale of strength. Category 3 storms have sustained winds of at least 111 mph. The forecast said the probability of a major hurricane making landfall along the U.S. coastline is 69 percent….

Last year’s hurricane season was below average, with nine named tropical storms, three of which were hurricanes. The National Hurricane Center said it was the lowest number of tropical storms for the Atlantic basin since 1997.

The full report can be found here. In the short video, shot at FEMA’s National Response Coordination Center, Fugate challenges the public saying, “We’re getting ready…Are you?” and urges Americans to visit Ready.Gov. The Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1.